Construction Laborers

Construction Laborers perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.

This role centers on perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers..
The work relies on speaking and active listening among the skills shown below.
Common backgrounds include high school or ged and a range of related job titles.

Quick facts

Top skillSpeakingHighest importance score at 3.25

Most common educationHigh school or GEDReported by 34.9% of workers

Typical experienceNone requiredReported by 43.47% of workers

Job title variations247 titlesCommon titles found in source data

What this career is really about

Day-to-day success depends on skills such as speaking and active listening. These abilities support the communication, problem-solving, and coordination that the work requires.

Education paths vary, but high school or ged is the most commonly reported background. Related work experience also plays a role, with many workers bringing relevant practice before stepping into this position.

This career suits people who want a structured role with clear skill and education signals drawn from real workforce data.

Common job titles

Construction Laborers may appear under many titles. The names below come directly from the source dataset and reflect different employer naming conventions for similar responsibilities.

Air Breaker Operator
Air Drill Operator
Air Gun Operator
Air Hammer Operator
Air Tool Operator
Aluminum Pool Installer
Asbestos Removal Worker
Asphalt Distributor Tender
Asphalt Heater Tender
Asphalt Layer
Asphalt Patcher
Asphalt Paver
Asphalt Raker
Asphalt Smoother
Asphalt Spreader
Asphalt Tamper
Asphalt Worker
Auxiliary Equipment Tender
Awning Hanger
Awning Installer
Axman
Batch Dumper
Beller
Belter
Beltman
Biofuels Plant Construction Worker
Bituminous Asphalt Technician
Black Top Raker
Black Topper
Bottom Man
Bottom Worker
Breast Worker
Bridge Builder
Broom Man
Broom Worker
Brush Cutter
Bull Float Finisher
Burlap Man
Burlap Worker
Caisson Worker
Caulker
Cement Breaker
Cement Cutter
Cement Mixer
Chuck Tender
Cinder Crew Worker
Circular Saw Operator
Column Precaster
Concrete Building Assembler
Concrete Buster Operator
Concrete Curer
Concrete Handler
Concrete Layer
Concrete Mixer
Concrete Pourer
Concrete Puddler
Concrete Spreader
Concrete Vibrator Operator
Concrete Worker
Connection Worker
Construction Coordinator
Construction Craft Laborer
Construction Laborer
Construction Person
Construction Pit Worker
Construction Technician
Construction Trench Digger
Construction Worker
Core-Drill Operator
Culvert Installer
Demolition Hammer Operator
Demolition Specialist
Demolition Worker
Demolitionist
Digger
Dirt Shoveler
Ditch Digger
Ditch Repairer
Ditch Rider
Ditcher
Dope Pourer
Dopeman
Doper
Dowel Pin Man
Dowel Pin Worker
Dredge Pipe Operator
Dredge Pipeman
Drop Crew Laborer
Dust Handler
Earth Mover
Equipment Operator (EO)
Erosion Control Installer
Fence Post Driver
Fire Pot Operator
Form Setter
Form Stripper
General Construction Laborer
General Laborer
Grade Checker
Grade Tamper
Grader
Gravel Screener
Grit Blaster
Grout Machine Operator
Grout Worker
Groutman
Helper
High Man
High Worker
Hod Carrier
Hole Digger
Home Performance Laborer
Hydraulic Jack Adjuster
Hydraulic Jack Operator
Hydroblaster
Jackhammer Operator
Jet Man
Jet Worker
Jetting Machine Operator
Joint Filler
Joint Sealer
Kettle Firer
Kettle Operator
Kettle Worker
Kettleman
Laborer
Land Clearer
Leak Gang Laborer
Liquid Floor Applier
Liquid Wall Applier
Macadam Raker
Manhole Stripper
Mastic Man
Mastic Worker
Mat Man
Mat Weaver
Mat Worker
Mesh Man
Mesh Worker
Mixing Plant Dumper
Mop Man
Mop Worker
Mortar Carrier
Mortar Maker
Mortar Man
Mortar Mixer
Mortar Worker
Mud Jack Nozzleman
Municipal Maintenance Technician
Municipal Maintenance Worker
Nozzle Operator
Nozzleman
Nuclear Plant Construction Worker
Oil Heater Operator
Oil Heaterman
Pick and Shovel Man
Pick and Shovel Worker
Pile Header
Pile Trimmer
Piling Setter
Pin Puller
Pitman
Plaster Machine Tender
Playground Equipment Erector
Plowman
Plug Drill Operator
Pneumatic Riveter
Pole Setter
Pool Installer Technician
Pool Laborer
Post Framer
Powder Loader
Power Washer
Precast Concrete Products Installer
Pressure Washer
Puddler
Remodeler
Right-of-Way Clearer
Right-of-Way Cutter
Right-of-Way Man
Right-of-Way Worker
Riprap Man
Riprap Worker
Rivet Flunky
Riveter
Rock Worker
Rockman
Rod Placer
Rod Puller
Rubble Placer
Sand Blaster
Sand Hog
Sandblast Operator
Sandblaster
Scaffolding Operator
Scoop Filler
Service Line Layer
Sewer Builder
Sewer Digger
Sewer Repairer
Shoveler
Sidewalk Repairer
Signaler
Site Work Laborer
Skilled Laborer
Skip Tender
Sledger
Slip Applicator
Slip Dumper
Slip Filler
Slip Injector
Slipman
Snow Fence Erector
Sounder
Sprayer
Steel Layer
Steel Placer
Steel Post Installer
Stone Breaker
Straightedge Man
Straightedge Worker
Stripe Marker
Swimming Pool Installer
Tagman
Tamper
Tar Kettle Runner
Tar Man
Tar Pot Man
Tar Pot Worker
Tar Worker
Toolman
Track Repair Laborer
Tuckpointer
Tunnel Man
Tunnel Worker
Turntable Man
Turntable Worker
Vibrator Operator
Wagon Winder
Wall Cleaner
Wall Scraper
Wall Steamer
Wall Washer
Wallpaper Scraper
Water Proofer
Well Cleaner
Whitewasher

Skills that carry the work

The skill pattern shows speaking as the leading requirement, followed by active listening and reading comprehension. These strengths shape how workers perform the core duties described above.

Speaking

3.25

Active Listening

3.12

Reading Comprehension

2.75

Critical Thinking

2.75

Monitoring

2.62

Writing

2.25

Scores shown on a 0–5 scale using the importance value from the provided skills table.

Education

The education distribution is varied. High school or GED is the single largest group at 34.9%. Other credentials are also represented, indicating multiple possible paths into this career.

High school or GED34.9%

Less Than High School32.53%

Post-secondary certificate27.98%

Associate degree4.59%

High school or GED is most common

About 34.9% of workers in this role report high school or ged as their highest level of education.

Several educational routes appear

Other reported backgrounds include less than high school and post-secondary certificate, showing flexibility in preparation.

Reported backgrounds, not requirements

These figures describe the education workers have reported, not a mandatory checklist for entering the role.

Experience

Experience levels vary. The largest group reports none required, followed by 1–3 months. This suggests that many people enter the role after building relevant experience.

None required43.47%

1–3 months27.62%

1–2 years15.16%

6–12 months9.83%

3–6 months2.76%

4–6 years1.16%

A realistic way into this career

There is no single path into this role. Many people build related skills and experience first, then move into positions with greater responsibility. The steps below are a common pattern.

Build foundational skills

Start in roles that develop speaking and active listening. These abilities form the base for the day-to-day work described in the source data.

Gain related experience

Work in adjacent positions where you can apply those skills in real situations. This builds judgment, confidence, and the practical knowledge employers look for.

Move into the target role

With relevant experience and the right credentials, step into a construction laborers position and take on the full scope of responsibilities.

Good fit signals

Comfort with structured tasks

You work best when there are clear processes, goals, and measurable outcomes to track.

Strong communication habits

You can apply skills like speaking and active listening to coordinate with others and keep work moving.

Willingness to keep learning

You are open to building experience and education over time rather than expecting an instant entry path.